Texas Drought: Bad for Homeowners, Good for Not-so-Good Foundation Repairs

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A severe drought in Texas has caused thousands of foundation problems. Homeowners have faced many headaches and thousands of dollars in damages. In a depressed housing market, foundation problems are a tough sell. But the misfortune of some is the gold mine of others. Foundation Repair companies have logged record profits, charging thousands of dollars for foundation repairs and are not able to keep up with demand. Unfortunately, almost all foundation repairs do not work, says Diego Gorgazzi, Structural Engineer with A-1 Engineering, Structural Engineers in Austin and San Antonio, TX.

"The most common type of foundation repair done on houses is Temporary," says Gorgazzi, "We are called to inspect many foundations that were repaired not too long ago." Why most homeowners call a foundation repair company instead of a Structural Engineering Company to inspect a foundation prior to any foundation work appears to be simply that most people don't know Structural Engineers (Also Foundation Engineers) actually exist.

"Most foundations do not require repair and those that do are being repaired with a system that is scientifically and historically proven not to be permanent," said Gorgazzi. Some of the houses are repaired for about $13,000 for about 1800 square-feet of space; money that apparently did not have to be spent.

Some foundation repair contractors are not satisfied with A-1 Engineering website statements and left anonymous remarks, therefore were not able to be reached for comment.

A-1 Engineering inspects many foundations thanks to the drought and to the not-so-good foundation repair. But business for Structural Engineers is not nearly as good as what the foundation repair companies have enjoyed lately. "We would like to be called before doing any repairs so that we can save homeowners thousands of dollars by avoiding foundation work and allow them to easily sell their house, but for now we are called after the fact. In a few months when those foundations start to move I am sure Structural Engineers will be very busy," explained Gorgazzi.

If the drought stops and foundation repairs, employing thousands of people, dries out, maybe Texas will feel some of the Recession. Or homeowners will have more money to spend on other things and bad economic times will never be felt again.